The comics are just as story driven as the show, issue #100 was awesome, and featured a main character getting their head bashed in with a barbed wire baseball bat repeatedly until only a pile of goo, and an eyeball remainded of their face, but that was the most action packed issue since about #48(I have the first 96 issues collected in graphic novel, and they do a horrible job of seperating issues). There were flashes of action in between, like a 4 shot involving cannibals, or a stand-off here & there, but there are very rare moments that make it feel like a horror story. It is a drama about Rick trying to remain human in a world where everyone is becoming a monster, the zombies are simply the backdrop.
The prison is some of the slowest progress in the comics, but by seperating Andrea & Michonne from the group and having them arrive in Woodbury may help that problem out alot. In the comics the first bit is what of these criminals can we trust, and can we trust the crazy chick that was walking around with zombies chained to her. Then you have the whole Lori is pregnant, and Hershel does not have the right equipment, or knowledge to deliver a baby without putting her life in jeopardy, and then you finally get to some insane, & intense action(I dont want to spoil too much, as I am sure some of what I am not saying will be in the show). Also having Merle & Daryl(who are not in the comics) you have a whole new story, where one brother had to fend for himself, and the other stayed and helped the guy who left his brother to die. I do have high hopes for this season being better than the comics, I always found it slow, and the new angles make it more interesting.